Glasgow football coach Jeff Garmon talks to a player against Hart County in the second round of the 2024 Class 3A Playoffs. James Brown/WCLU Sports
By JAMES BROWN
WCLU Sports
Jeff Garmon had his dream job for 10 seasons. Retirement means he must wait to get it back, if he can.
“Every since I was a young kid, I wanted to coach at Glasgow,” Garmon said. “Johnny Vance, Coy Meadows, Bobby Cook, Sam Royce and all the coaches at Glasgow inspired me to want to grow up and coach.”
Garmon graduated from Glasgow High School in 1987. After college, he spent 18 years at Corbin with some of that time as the high school head baseball coach, assistant football coach and eighth grade basketball coach. Then the call came from home.
“My mom was sick with cancer at the time and I wanted to get closer to her,” Garmon said. He took a job with the Glasgow school district 2009. He was able to be a baseball assistant for Royce, and helped film football games on Fridays for then head coach Rick Wood.
“I basically had to start over after 18 years at Corbin. I filmed games, then the next year I helped with the line, then coached defense,” he said. “I had to work my way back up.”
Wood retired after the 2014 season and Garmon landed his dream job as head coach of the Glasgow football program.
“When I got the job I was already 45 years old. I was a late bloomer,” he laughed. “I turned 55 in June. I could have retired in June, but I would have had to sit out 90 days.”
Due to the teacher retirement requirements, Garmon had to retire from all positions — teaching and coaching. Then he must not have contact with the school district for 90 days. His effective retirement date was Jan. 1, 2025, he said.
Meanwhile, the football head coach position has been posted as open. Garmon can apply for the open position, but cannot do so until after April 1. The job opening details on the district’s website states applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
“I told them (the administration) if they wanted to get someone else, I understand,” Garmon said. “I am going to re-apply if the position is still open, but I told them I would support whatever they needed to do.”
Garmon said he plans to help with the football program in whatever way was needed. “It’s a big part of my life.”
The coach posted an 84-36 record in his 10 seasons. The Scotties won two regional titles (2017 and 2021) during his tenure. As an assistant in 2011, Glasgow reached the Class 2A state title game.
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